Roof construction for silos or the like

ABSTRACT

A GENERALLY DOME SHAPED ROOF FOR SILOS OR THE LIKE AND FABRICATED FROM INDIVIDUAL PANELS WHICH ARE FASTENED TOGETHER. THE PANELS ARE ADJUSTABLE RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER OT ACCOMMODATE SILOS OR BUILDINGS OF VARIOUS DIAMETERS. THE JOINTS BETWEEN THE PANELS ARE CONSTRUCTED SO AS TO BE WATERPROOF. BRACKET MEANS FOR HOLDING THE ROOF DOWN TIGHTLY ON THE TOP OF THE SILO AND ALSO TIGHTLY AGAINST THE OUTSIDE OF THE SILO.

Feb. 16, 1971 w WQLLIN EI'AL 3,562,976

ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR SILOS OR THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1969 2Sheets-Sheet x Jmmlons Qger W Wail/n Mar/14y Feb. 16; 1971 WQLLIN ETAL3,562,976

ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR SILOS OR THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1969 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Jm/en/ors q ger 7% %//171 $72? g1 W z. 77%

United States Patent O 3,562,976 ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR SILOS OR THE LIKERoger W. Wollin, Lake Mills, and Larry L. Smiley, Wausau, Wis.,assignors to Fiberdome Incorporated, Lake Mills, Wis, a corporation ofWisconsin Filed Mar. 3, 1969, Ser. No. 803,541 Int. Cl. E0411 7/08; E04h7/ 30 US. Cl. 52-81 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A generally domeshaped roof for silos or the like and fabricated from individual panelswhich are fastened together. The panels are adjustable relative to oneanother to accommodate silos or buildings of various diameters. Thejoints between the panels are constructed so as to be waterproof.Bracket means for holding the roof down tightly on the top of the siloand also tightly against the outside of the silo.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to generallycircular building structures and more particularly to the domes or roofsfor such buildings, for example, silos, storage bins or the like. Theseroofs are fabricated from individual panels which have reinforcing ribsextending along their length and which when fastened together form agenerally conical, radial ribbed roof.

Roofs of this general character are well known and are shown for examplein the United States patent No. 2,187,- 616 which issued Jan. 16, 1940,and entitled Silo Roof. These prior art devices have attempted to usevarious means for facilitating assembly of the panels and for preventingleakage through the joints between the panels. These prior art deviceshave not proven entirely satisfactory however, because of the numerousparts, joints, and the difficulty in assembling them. They were not onlycomplicated in construction, but costly to manufacture and furthermore,did not provide the flexibility of size which was usually required inthis type of construction. They were also difficult to install properlyon the top of the silo and usually required numerous parts to firmlysecure the roof.

SUMMARY The present invention provides a generally dome shaped roofcomprised of a plurality of individual panels. The panels have means forfastening them together which permit a standard panel size andconfiguration to be used in silos or buildings of various diameters. Theinvention also permits the use of a common size, central upper framering for silos of different diameters. The arrangement is such that thepanels are fastened at a pivotal point at their upper end and directlyto the ring and can be adjusted relative to one another so as to varythe diameter or circumference of the lower end of the completed roof.The invention also provides a novel ribbed joint construction betweenthe panels which is easily assembled and is waterproof throughout itslength.

Another aspect of the invention provides novel bracket means for holdingthe roof down tightly on the top of the silo wall and also tightlyagainst the outside of the wall, and which means can be easily installedand adjusted.

Still another aspect of the present invention relates to the use ofpanels made of fiberglass which are light in weight and have sufficientflexibility or deformation so as to form a particularly good sealbetween panels when used with other aspects of the present invention.

3,562,976 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 ice These and other objects andadvantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter as thisdisclosure progresses, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, elevationalview of a silo embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical view, partially in section, through the silo shownin FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of the uppermostportion of the roof shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the panels used in the roof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view of the joint betweenthe panels, the view being taken generally along the line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken generally along line 66 in FIG. 4, buton an enlarged scale, and showing the shape of one of the panel edgesbefore two panels are secured together;

FIG. 7 is a view taken generally along the line 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view taken generally along the line 99 in FIG. 1, but on anenlarged scale; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective, exploded view of the clamp shown in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The silo S or other structure withwhich the invention has been shown is generally circular in plan view. Aseries of steel hoops H are wrapped around the silo at spaced verticalintervals and act to strengthen the silo and prevent it from explodingor being pushed outwardly due to the pressure of the material storedtherein. One such hoop has been shown adjacent the top edge 1 of thesilo and further reference will be made to this particular hoop.

These silos are generally of various diameters and heretofore it hasbeen a diflicult problem for manufacturers of roofs to be able tofabricate and stock panels and other parts which are used to make upthese roofs.

The roof provided by the present invention is comprised of a series ofarcuate, sector-shaped panels P fabricated from fiberglass. Thesefiberglass panels have a certain amount of resiliency, are light inweight, and exceptionally strong. A rib 3 is formed along the length ofone edge of the panel while another central rib 4 is formed along thecenter of the panel. As shown clearly in FIG. 4, a series of holes 5 areformed in the rib 3 at spaced intervals along the length of the raisedrib. Adjacent the top, flattened end 6 of the panel, an aperture 7 isformed for purposes that Will appear. Along the other side or length ofthe panel is a series of recesses, apertures, or slots 9 of elongatedshape and these elongated apertures 9 may be formed as slots or the likewhich provide adjustability between the panels in a circumferentialdirection as will appear. Inasmuch as the panels are pivoted at theirupper end at the apertures 7 and must swing circumferentially at theirlower end relative to one another, the apertures 9 located towards thelower end of the panel are of greater length than the apertures 9 at theupper end of the panel. In other words, the apertures increase inlength, in a horizontal or circumferential direction around the roof, asthey progress downwardly along the length of the panel.

As shown in FIG. 5, the edges of adjacent panels are overlapped andfastening means in the form of bolt means 10 extend therethrough andhave a Washer 11 located at its lower end which is of sufiicient size soas to completely cover the apertures 9. A rubber gasket 12 is providedunder the head of the bolt means and when the bolt means are tightened,the flat edge 13 of the lower fiberglass panel deforms sufliciently tobe drawn up to a certain extent within the rib 3 of the upper panel.Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the one edge of a panel is formed as aninwardly turned edge 13 which lies under the adjoining rib 3. Due to theflexibility of the fiberglass, when the bolt means are tightened to drawthe edge 13 outwardly so that it is drawn slightly into the rib, theedge also deforms along the outermost edge 14 of the upper sheet.

The resulting joint forms a very effective seal against moisture for theentire length of the resulting panel joint.

The upper end of each panel is fastened by bolt means 15 to a centerring 16. The ring 16 is fabricated from an angle iron and has ahorizontal flange 16a through which the bolt means 15 extends and onwhich the upper end of the panel rests.

It should be noted that with the present invention a ring 16 of a givendiameter can be used for silos having various diameters within limits,as will appear.

With the panels pivotally attached at their upper end to the ring 16,and with the elongated apertures 9 along one side of the panels, thepanels can be adjusted relative to one another. As a considerable numberof these panels are used in any roof, if the elongated apertures 9, forexample, are two inches in length, a considerable variation in silodiameters or circumferences can be accommodated with panels of any givensize or configuration.

Thus, a considerable savings in costs for labor and dies in making thepanel, in stocking the panels, and in handling and assembling thesepanels is made possible.

The entire roof is easy to assemble, light in weight, waterproof inconstruction, and particularly rigid.

A dome cap 20 as shown in FIG. 3 can then be used to close the top,central opening in the roof.

Bracket means are provided for securely anchoring the above describedroof to both the previously mentioned silo hoop H which surrounds theupper end of the silo, and to the silo wall itself.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the bracket means 32 comprises an L-shaped,steel member 33 which has a horizontal portion 34 that extends over thetop of the silo wall W and outwardly thereof. The member 33 also has avertical portion 35 which extends downwardly along and against theinside of the wall W.

The steel hoop H is located adjacent the uper edge of the silo wall anda J-bolt 36 is readily connected at its lower end to the hoop and thenextends upwardly where it passes through an open ended slot 38 in thefree end of the horizontal portion 34 of the L-shaped member 33. Aneyebolt 40 is slipped over and thus secured at one end around the J-bolt and then extends over the top of the silo wall and through thevertical portion 35 of the bracket means.

An intermediate brace 42 rests on top of the silo wall and has avertical flange 43 which is secured by bolt means 44 (FIG. 7) to theinside of the roof and adjacent the lower end thereof. It will be notedfrom FIG. 8 the horizontal portion 34 of the bracket means rests firmlyagainst the top of the brace 42 and when the nut 46 of the J-bolt istightened, the bracket means is held tightly downwardly against brace 42and against the top of the silo wall, thus holding the roof downsecurely. Furthermore, when the nut 48 on the eye-bolt is tightened, theJ-bolt and the roof are held tightly against the outside of the silowall.

The open ended slot 38 in the end of horizontal portion 34 permits easyassembly of the J-bolt in the bracket and radical adjustment of theJ-bolt in slot 38. The J-bolt can also be easily assembled on the hoopat any location along the length of the hoop.

These bracket means 32 are spaced around the circumference of the silowall and act to securely hold the roof downwardly and also inwardlyagainst the outside of the silo.

Other brackets 50, as shown in FIGS. 2, 9 and 10 are spaced'circumferentially around the silo at locations between bracket means32, and are for the purpose of joining two panels securely together andthen to the silo wall. A bolt means 52 is adjustable in slot 53 in theupper leg 54 of the L-shaped bracket 55. Bracket 55 sets on top of thesilo wall. The washer 56 is also considerably larger than the slots 9.

What is claimed is:

1. A dome-shaped fiberglass roof fora circular wall, said roof beingmade up of a plurality of arcuate sectorshaped fiberglass roof panelsand a center, upper ring attached to the upper end of said panels; saidpanels being ecured at their upper end to said ring for limited pivotalmovement in respect thereto, said panels each having a raised rib formedalong one side and extending along the height thereof, a series of holesin said rib and spaced therealong, said panels having their adjacentedges overlapped, and said panels also each having a series ofhorizontally elongated apertures along their other side and spaced alongthe height thereof and aligned with said holes in said rib to form ajoint, and fastening means extending through said holes and theelongated apertures of an adjacent panel, whereby said panels can bepivoted relative to one another to vary the circumference of the lowerend of the roof formed by assembled panels, and when said fasteningmeans are tightened to rigidly secure said panels together, the lowerpanel of a joint is pulled up slightly into the rib of the upper panelto form a watertight connection between said panels along the entirejoint, means adjacent the lower edge of said panel for securing saidpanels to said wall, said means including brace elements secured to saidpanels and also including first bolt members holding said panels in adownward direction and other bolt members connected to said first boltmembers and holding said first bolt members radially inwardly.

2. The combination with a dome-shaped roof of the type made up of aplurality of arcuate sector-shaped roof panels, an upper, center ringattached to the upper end of said panels, and a circular hoopsurrounding a silo adjacent the upper edge thereof and to which saidroof is anchored; a bracket means for Securing said roof to said hoopand tightly around said upper edge of said silo; said bracket meanscomprising, an L-shaped member having a horizontal portion extendingover said silo edge and extending outwardly therefrom, said member alsohaving a vertical portion along and against the inner side of said silo,adjustable bolt means secured to and extending between said hoop andsaid horizontal portion forcing said member in a downward direction,other adjustable bolt means secured to and between said first bolt meansand said vertical portion forcing said first bolt means against saidsilo, and an intermediate brace secured to the inside of said roofadjacent the lower edge thereof and set on the top of said silo edge andalso located beneath and against said horizontal portion whereby thelatter holds said roof tightly against the top of said silo wall.

3. The bracket means set forth in claim 2 further characterized in thatsaid first adjustable means comprises a J-bolt which can be readilyattached to said hoop.

4. The bracket means of claim 3 further characterized in that saidhorizontal portion has an open-ended slot where it extends outwardlyfrom said silo wall, and said I-bolt is inserted in said slot.

5. The combination with a dome-shaped roof of the type made up of aplurality of arcuate sector-shaped roof panels, an upper, center ringattached to the upper end of said panels, said panels being secured attheir upper end to said ring for limited pivotal movement in respectthereto, said panels each having a raised rib formed along one side andextending along the height thereof, a series of holes in said rib andspaced therealong, said panels also each having a series of horizontallyelongated apertures along their other side and spaced along the heightthereof and alignable with said holes in said rib when adjacent panelsoverlap to form a joint, and fastening means extending through saidholes and the elongated apertures of an adjacent panel, whereby saidpanels can be pivoted relative to one another to vary the circumferenceof the lower end of the roof formed by assembled panels; and a circularhoop surrounding a silo adjacent the upper edge thereof and to whichsaid roof is anchored; a bracket means for securing said roof to saidhoop and tightly around said upper edge of said silo; said bracket meanscomprising, an L-shaped member having a horizontal portion extendingover said silo edge and extending outwardly therefrom, said member alsohaving a vertical portion along and against the inner side of said silo,adjustable bolt means secured to and extending between said hoop andsaid horizontal portion forcing said member in a downward direction,other adjustable bolt means secured to and between said first bolt meansand said vertical portion forcing said first bolt means against saidsilo, and an intermediate brace secured to the inside of said roofadjacent the lower edge thereof and set on the top of said silo edge andalso located beneath and against said horizontal portion whereby thelatter holds said roof tightly against the top of said silo wall.

6. The combination set forth in claim further characterized in that saidfirst adjustable means comprises a J-bolt which can be readily attachedto said hoop.

7. The combination of claim 7 further characterized in that saidhorizontal portion has an open-ended slot where it extends outwardlyfrom said silo wall, and said J-bolt is inserted in said slot.

8. The combination with a dome-shaped fiberglass roof of the type madeup of a plurality of arcuate sectorshaped fiberglass roof panels, anupper, center ring attached to the upper end of said panels, said panelsbeing secured at their upper end to said ring for limited pivotalmovement in respect thereto, said panels each having a raised rib formedalong one side and extending along the height thereof, a series of holesin said rib and spaced therealong, said panels also each having a seriesof horizontally elongated apertures along their other side and spacedalong the height thereof and alignable with said holes in said rib whenadjacent panels overlap to form a joint, and fastening means extendingthrough said holes and the elongated apertures of an adjacent panel,whereby said panels can be pivoted relative to one another to vary thecircumference of the lower end of the roof formed by assembled panels,and when said fastening means are tightened to rigidly secure saidpanels together, the lower panel of a joint is pulled up slightly intothe rib of the upper panel to form a watertight connection between saidpanels along the entire joint; and a circular hoop surrounding a siloadjacent the upper edge thereof and to which said roof is anchored; abracket means for securing said roof to said hoop and tightly aroundsaid upper edge of said silo; said bracket means comprising, an L-shapedmember having a horizontal portion extending over said silo edge andextending outwardly therefrom, said member also having a verticalportion along and against the inner side of said silo, adjustable boltmeans secured to and extending between said hoop and said horizontalportion for forcing said member in a downward direction, otheradjustable bolt means secured to and between said first bolt means andsaid vertical portion for forcing said first bolt means against saidsilo, and an intermediate brace secured to the inside of said roofadjacent the lower edge thereof and set on the top of said silo edge andalso located beneath and against said horizontal portion whereby thelatter holds said roof tightly against the top of said silo wall.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 further characterized in thatsaid first adjustable means comprises a J-bolt which can be readilyattached to said hoop.

10. The combination of claim 9 further characterized in that saidhorizontal portion has an open-ended slot where it extends outwardlyfrom said silo wall, and said J-bolt is inserted in said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,722 9/1937 Bangert 52812,187,616 1/1940 Cowin 5281 2,769,409 11/ 1956 Rutten 5281 FOREIGNPATENTS 774,802 1/1968 Canada 52-81 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 5282, 584, 713

